Kings County UC Cooperative Extension

Kings County 4-H Ambassadors

What Is a County Ambassador?
A County Ambassador is the representative and champion of the county 4-H program. While no two County Ambassador programs are identical, they follow the same guidelines, provide similar opportunities and have the same learning goals.

All County Ambassadors are highly encouraged to attend and participate in the California 4-H State Leadership Conference (at the beginning of their term), serve on statewide committees, and participate in other activities or events beyond the county level.  These experiences help expand leadership skills and are beneficial for those wishing to become State Ambassadors.

County Ambassadors act as visible 4-H members - role models for their fellow 4-H members, their county, their state, and their world. They serve 12-month terms from July 1 - June 30 of the program year.

County Ambassador Handbook v. 2024

Qualifications:

  1. Must be between 14 - 18 years old and meet the 4-H membership requirements for the length of the term of service.  On the first day of the appointment to County Ambassador, applicants must be 14 years old.
  2. Applicants must have at least one year of prior 4-H membership, which does not need to be consecutive or the most recent year.
  3. Applicants must demonstrate leadership experience and skills by documenting the following:
    1. Mastery of a project:  A minimum of 6 hours of instruction, supported by a skills statement.
    2. Significant leadership roles:  40 hours, with at least 10 hours within 4-H.
    3. Civic Engagement and/or community service:  30 hours, with at least 6 hours through 4-H.
    4. Public speaking engagements:  10 total, including at least 2 at 4-H events.
    5. Involvement in 4-H:  A list of 15 activities, which may include project skill activities, attendance at 4-H events, honors and recognition. OR achieve a Gold Star Rank.

Note: Definitions for project skill activities, 4-H events attended, honors, and recognition can be found in the California 4-H Record Book Manual Star Ranks Path, Section 2: Personal Development Report (PDR).

Completing a PDR or an Emerald Star I, Emerald Star II or Impact Star Achievement form is not an application requirement for County Ambassador.

 

3 step process to becoming a 4-H ambassador

The Selection of Ambassadors

Application

Applicants will submit the required application form, substantiating documents, and letters of recommendation to the Kings UCCE Office by May 1, 2025. The following are the required application elements:

  1. Applicant Information
  2. Essay Responses
  3. 4-H Resume
  4. Written Evidence of Leadership Experience and Skills
  5. Three (3) Letters of Recommendation:
    1. One letter:  from a 4-H youth member.
    2. Two letters:  from adults who have knowledge of the applicant's leadership experience, skills, and character.  At least one of the letters must be from a 4-H adult volunteer, who has knowledge of the applicant's skills and character demonstrated within 4-H.

Note:  Recommendations may not be from a parent/guardian, sibling or other family member residing in the same household as the applicant.

Interview

Applicants who submit a completed application and are eligible will be contacted with an interview date and time. The interview panel will consist of two 4-H adult volunteers and one youth member. The interview will start with time for you to give a short introduction about yourself. After your introduction, you will be asked a set of standard questions that will be provided ahead of time to all candidates. At the conclusion of the interview, there will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions if you have them.

Notification

The interview panel will review the candidates and make their recommendations. You will be notified by mail of your selection status within 10 days following the interview.

 

Recognition

Ambassador is the highest leadership position youth members can hold at the county level. Ambassadors stand out from other 4-H'ers because of special attire such as:

  • Lapel pin earned upon appointment and worn during years of service.
  • Kings County Ambassador uniform (usually a special jacket, polo shirt and/or name tag).

Ambassadors who successfully complete their year of service are eligible to receive the Marion Brazil Memorial Scholarship.

 

Year of Service

Expectations:

  1. Complete at least 8 of the 14 items below:
    1. Attend California 4-H State Leadership Conference
    2. Assist with the planning and execution of Achievement Night
    3. Assist with the planning and execution of Judging Day
    4. Assist with the planning and execution of Presentation Day/Food Olympics
    5. Assist with the planning and execution of 4-H Fair
    6. Speak at two 4-H clubs other than your own
    7. Visit at least one community organization to talk about 4-H
    8. Attend at least four Leaders Council meetings this year
    9. Represent Kings County 4-H at a Sectional, Regional, or State event
    10. Plan and carry out an Ambassador Project*
    11. Plan and carry out a community outreach event
    12. Develop and/or coordinate a Leadership Activity/Event for Kings County 4-H Members
    13. Participate in National 4-H week activities i.e. Tractor Supply Paper Clover Drive, Window Displays, Thursday Night Marketplace Booth
    14. Submit a “4-H Spotlight” article for the Youth Talk Newsletter
  2. Attend at least 80% Ambassador meetings.
  3. Follow the 4-H Code of Conduct always.
  4. Maintain a professional attitude as a representative of the 4-H Youth Development Program. Remember that both peer friendships and youth-adult partnerships are working, professional relationships.
  5. Follow the 4-H Dress Guidelines and dress appropriately for events attended or participated in as a County Ambassador. This includes wearing Ambassador attire to an event when appropriate.
  6. Serve as a role model for younger members. As a prominent senior member of the 4-H program, younger members will be watching County Ambassadors both on and off stage. Be mindful of this and aspire to set a good example always.
  7. Complete work on time. Whether it is an independent project or part of a group project, members should always complete the work that is agreed upon, whether determined by the group or individually volunteered. Members who are having trouble completing tasks on time must let the adult coach or County Ambassador team know so the adult coaches can help. This should be viewed as a learning experience. Things happen, and everyone needs to learn how to ask for help.
  8. Other duties assigned and decided on by Ambassador coach and team.
  9. Complete Exit Application and Interview – member will discuss their leadership growth and development, highlights from their year of service, and any suggestions for improvements to the Ambassador Program.

*Planning and carrying out an Ambassador Project is mandatory if the team consists of 3 or more ambassadors. 

 

Marion Brazil Memorial Scholarship

The Marion Brazil Memorial Scholarship is a $6,000 scholarship only available to Kings County 4-H All-Stars/Ambassadors. This scholarship is from the Marion Brazil Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in honor of Mr. Brazil by his wife in 1961. 

Ambassadors are eligible to receive the $1,500 first installment of the Brazil 4-H Memorial Scholarship upon enrolling in their second full-time term at an accredited college, university, or trade school in California. Ambassadors must be enrolled as a full-time student, defined as 12 quarter units or 15 semester units. Forms will be mailed from the UCCE Office.

Ambassadors may apply to have their scholarship renewed the following year provided they remain a full-time student and earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.  Those forms will be sent the second year if they accept the scholarship the first year. The scholarship can be awarded for a total of four $1,500 installments while in undergraduate studies. 

 

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